Slots at Arundel Mills… Can I tell both sides to piss off?

In this political season where we are seeing what is a growing tidal wave of anti-incumbent fever, one issue has boiled my blood.  It’s an issue that has been years in the making, has seen incompetence from politicians and horse racing owners, greed from entertainment moguls, stupidity from people assuming that the politicians and entertainment moguls would do the right thing, a court system attempting to bypass a recall system, and a campaign that has come up with misleading one-line slogans, such as “Jobs and Revenue” and “Safer streets”.  I am talking about the vote to Build a Slots Parlor at Arundel Mills Mall, which has been allowed via the Maryland Constitution.  And both sides need to be taken to task.

To summarize how we got to this stupid point, let’s review the history…  In 2007, after years of trying to legalize slots to help the sagging horse racing industry, the Maryland legislature decided that they didn’t want the responsibility to try and pass slots (mainly because Maryland Speaker Michael Busch wouldn’t bring slots up for a vote), so they put the decision in the hands of voters via a Constitutional Amendment.  The Amendment mandated specific locations for the slots to be placed:  Cecil County, Western Maryland Mountains, near Ocean City, Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel County.  And to ensure passage by voters, the legislature tied school funding, union concessions, and police and fire money to the slots, which was initially designed to save horse racing.  Naturally, it passed with about 60%.

With the amendment passed, bids were opened in 2009.  The Maryland Legislature hoped for a windfall just on the bidding process.  Unfortunately, due to the economy and the fact that other nearby states already had slots and were pushing table games, the bidding process was a disaster.  In Anne Arundel County, it was assumed that Laurel Racetrack would be the winner.  However, the owners of Laurel did not place their bid in time nor did they meet the minimum bid.

Enter Frank Cordish, entertainment mogul with an idea:  build a slots parlor near the popular Arundel Mills Mall.  Cordish put forward a proposal that was on time and met the requirements of the bidding process.  Naturally, the bid from the Cordish group was selected and the Anne Arundel County Council voted to support the Cordish bid.

That’s when residents near Arundel Mills Mall got involved.  They obviously hated the idea of a gambling place near their Single Family Home neighborhoods, and, with the help of the Horse Racing Industry, organized a petition to force the Slots Proposal on the ballot.  They got well over the necessary signatures.  Cordish sued claiming (1) most of the signatures were fake and (2) the petition process was illegal to begin with.  Cordish won the legal case at the County level, but the Maryland Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling, forcing the ballot question.

The campaign has been a mess.  The slots opponents maintained their simple message:  no slots at the Mall, and put the slots at Laurel Racetrack.  The Cordish group has kept it to simple one-liners:  Jobs and Revenue, Safer Streets, Lower Taxes, and Better Schools.  The supporters have even had the chutzpah to place giant signs at Arundel Mills telling people it’s about Jobs and Revenue.  I’m sure residents fume at seeing those signs on a daily basis.

So why am I pissed at both sides?  Simple.  To slots opponents at Arundel Mills, many of them voted in 2008 to legalize slots.  Now they’re upset that Cordish is within the constitutional right to put slots in their neighborhood?  Sorry, hypocrites, but you voted to allow the possibility in the first place.  If slots pass, you’ll just have to deal with it.

As for Cordish, you’re one-liners are full of misinterpretations.  Slots at the Mall will NOT lower taxes or provide safer streets.  It could bring in a criminal element (like it has done in the past).  Better schools is just a pipe dream in a state that already has some of the nation’s best public schools.  And your key point of Providing Jobs and Revenue?  Legalizing prostitution would provide Jobs and Revenue, but you don’t see Marylanders voting for that (oh wait, we already have legalized prostitution in Maryland… it’s called ANNAPOLIS LOBBYISTS!!!)

The games that have been played over the slots issue has been an embarrassment and I have had enough.  Can we eliminate the biggest reason for slots and just put the Preakness up for sale to the highest out-of-state bidder yet?

AT&T caught in 4G crossfire…

This may be one of the few times to feel bad for the Telecom giant AT&T.  Sure, AT&T is a juggernaut in the telecommunication world, particularly with regards to wireless and cable.  AT&T is the sole provider of the iPhone and iPad in the US, two devices that are must haves.  Also, AT&T has the largest network in America in terms of coverage.  And AT&T’s U-Verse is a very formidable cable standard that is gaining in popularity.

But AT&T’s cellular market has taken a hit in recent years as the giant has struggled to provide 3G speeds, particularly in urban areas where iPhone usage has strained the network.  And now, AT&T seems to be lagging in a growing 3-way battle for pre-4G supremacy.  AT&T’s attempts to split the difference may provide turbulence over the next 4 years.

In one corner is Sprint and Clear, who started the 4G war by launching WiMAX 2 years ago in Baltimore.  Though the network stopped and started over the last two years, it now has a good base of customers and devices.  WiMAX may ultimately not survive, but it will be a force at least for the next 1-2 years.

The second corner is occupied by T-Mobile.  T-Mobile has all but officially supplanted AT&T as the fastest 3G network as their HSPA+ network has rapidly spread across the nation.  While AT&T is still modernizing their networks, T-Mobile has put in advanced infrastructure making upgrades to HSPA+ faster via software only, providing speeds that match and, in some cases, exceed WiMAX.  HSPA+ is a cheap alternative to WiMAX and LTE technology, as T-Mobile waits for the arrival of true 4G technologies.

The third corner is occupied by Verizon Wireless and MetroPCS.  MetroPCS has just launched LTE with Verizon following suit later this year.  Both had to go with LTE, considering that their technology was not keeping up with AT&T’s speeds.  Upgrading to LTE surpasses AT&T’s current network speed.

So what is AT&T’s plan?  Right now, AT&T is trying to upgrade to HSPA+ in some areas and LTE in others over the next two years.  In addition, AT&T will probably push Femtocells to help saturate coverage and close the speed gap.  Over the next couple of years, AT&T will likely be playing catch-up with more nimble competitors.  Don’t plan AT&T’s funeral yet, though.  AT&T has the resources to be the likely forerunner of true 4G when it arrives in 2013 or 2014.

For now, Apple is AT&T’s best friend.  As long as the iPhone and iPad maintain their status and are exclusive to AT&T, AT&T is fine.

Coming home

In an earlier blog, I wondered what it would be like to return home to Snellville after being away for almost 5 years.  This past week, I got my answer as my wife, my son, and I returned to the place “Where Everybody’s Somebody”.

In short, the town has changed considerably.  Gone is the Hardee’s and Dairy Queen on West Main Street, and if A&J is still there, I didn’t see it.  McDonald’s and KFC are still in their traditional location, though they have been significantly upgraded.  The New Snellville City Hall is huge and South Gwinnett High School looks like they are adding a skyscraper to the facility.  There are new facilities everywhere.  Most notably the Avenue at Web Gin House has added new shopping areas.  Some old landmarks, though still in original locations are older and more worn down.  And there is a lot of vacant buildings in town.  Heck, the Avenue at Web Gin House is less than four years old, and some shops have already left.  Can we at least tear down some buildings if they are going to remain vacant for years?

It’s clear, however, that even with the new facilities, the town has aged and grown.  What used to be an exburb is now “the Atlanta suburb”.  Memorial Drive didn’t die, it just moved out to Snellville.  The demographics has changed as families have moved on after raising their kids, and I predict an African-American could become mayor of Snellville in 15 years… remarkable considering it was less than 20 years ago when the town was over 90% white.  Even the neighborhood is showing it’s signs of age.  Water lines approaching the age of 40 have already busted.  The neighborhood has tried to go younger, but at least 5 families have been in the neighborhood longer than the 31 years that my parents have lived in the house.

It was good to see old friends in town, though.  Perhaps I will have a chance to visit Snellville again at some point in the future with Liz and Joshua and talk about how the town has changed even more.

Random thoughts (a la Norman Chad)

From time to time, Norman Chad likes to make random statements in the newspaper.  I think I’m going to designate this week to make some random observations right now.  So, here are 23 random thoughts:

1.  The Weather Channel really roots for major hurricanes to develop.  Over the last several years, they got excited when a Tropical Storm formed.  Now, they get excited every time a Tropical Depression develops even if it doesn’t hit the US.  Thankfully, Earl has arrived to roll Cantore out.

2.  David Letterman is still the creepiest guy in the public eye.  I give him five years before he is charged with having inappropriate contact with a minor.

3.  In 2006, the country wanted change, and the Democrats cheered.  In 2008, the country wanted change, and the Democrats cheered.  In 2010, the country wants change, and the Democrats are screaming, Hey, wait a minute!

4.  Maybe the real reason for the possible upcoming NFL lockout in 2011 is so they can guarantee Brett Favre will retire after this season.

5. When the VP choices in 2008 were Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, Dan Quayle had to be jumping for joy.  He realized he would not go down as the most incompetent VP in history.

6.  One reason that the Ravens are a class organization:  after a pre-season game when a second-string LB showboated on a INT return for a TD, John Harbaugh found the guy and chewed him out.  They are everything in class that the Bengals are not.

7.  I keep hearing about this Big Game coming to National TV hosted by PokerStars.net.  Question is:  What channel and when?

8.  OK, we all want green energy, but we’re not willing to use the green energy that will provide the most energy?  Even former Greenpeace founders think nuclear is an option to be considered.

9.  While we’re on the subject of green energy, how about a smartphone that runs on solar power?  Heck, if we can get Calculators to run on Solar, surely we can do the same with an iPhone!

10.  Alternate sports jerseys have reached an epidemic.  The Arizona Cardinals have an alternate Black jersey?  Officially, the worst alternate home jersey is the Lime Green Seattle Seahawks jersey.

11.  I though Gulf Gas Stations disappeared when BP took over all the Georgia stations 20 years ago.  Now Gulf is taking over all the former Chevron and Texaco stations in Maryland.  Huh?

12.  Something tells me the Palins and Murkowskis will not be having dinner together or exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon. 

13.  Sports Illustrated did an article back in 1989 on how power pitchers pitching too many innings early in their career would shorten their careers.  One of the power pitchers mentioned in the article was Roger Clemens, and by the way, he was the only guy to have a career for over 20 seasons.  Anybody want to take a stab at how he REALLY did it?

14.  I want to see a BCS school get denied by Boise State and TCU from playing in the National Title Game.  The BCS conferences would institute a playoff immediately next season.

15.  I think Oklahoma should be banned from College Football National Title Game Consideration until (a) they win all their regular season game, including the Big 12 Title Game, and (b) have no more than 1 other CFB team that is undefeated.  Three times this past decade, they got into a title game they didn’t deserve and didn’t bother to show up.

16.  Why we are on the subject of College Football Teams that should be forced to earn their way to a National Title Game… Exhibit B:  Ohio State.  Sorry, Kirk.  Hope you enjoy this season Buckeye fans, because thanks to incoming Nebraska, it will be your last chance at the National Title for a while.

17.  Best reason to ban the 3D Movie/TV Experience:  Jackass 3D is coming.

18.  I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again:  Today’s young Disney stars become tomorrow’s Tabloid Stars.  Thank you for playing, Miley Cyrus.  Up next:  Demi Lovato.

19.  Is the future of Radio on iTunes?  Since I got iTunes on my Computer, I’ve noticed I can access thousands of stations.

20.  Giving your own money and resources to others or charity is showing compassion.  Taking other people’s money and resources and giving to others is not.

21.  When it comes to people celebrating any political bills being passed without anyone reading the full bill, I am always reminded of a quote from Centauri Ambassador Londo Mollari of Babylon 5:  “You do not understand.  But you will.”

22.  I’ve decided to lower the size limit of campaign signs when I become campaign sign czar.  We will now fine any campaign $1 for every square inch over 400 square inches that any sign exceeds.  Double the fine in heavily traffic’d areas (we shouldn’t be forced to look at those giant signs while stuck in traffic) and double the fine for incumbents (if you have to produce a giant sign to tell us to vote for you, you have made no impact).

23.  I’d like to know how a Maryland driver was able to get “ASS” on their license plate.  Granted, the full license plate was “NENNASS”, but still…